懇願・悃願|こんがんkongan[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
懇願懇願 is the more common written form and is written with kanji only. Beginners should normally choose this form.
悃願悃願 is a kanji-only variant of 懇願, but it is rarely used, so learners will seldom need to write it.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbpleading; entreaty; supplication; petition
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 懇願する（こんがんする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 懇願します（こんがんします） |
| Negative (nai) | 懇願しない（こんがんしない） |
| polite (masen) | 懇願しません（こんがんしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 懇願せず・懇願せぬ（こんがんせず・こんがんせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 懇願した（こんがんした） |
| polite (mashita) | 懇願しました（こんがんしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 懇願しなかった（こんがんしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 懇願しませんでした（こんがんしませんでした） |
| Te form | 懇願して（こんがんして） |
| Potential | 懇願できる（こんがんできる） |
| Passive | 懇願される（こんがんされる） |
| Causative | 懇願させる（こんがんさせる） |
| Causative passive | 懇願させられる（こんがんさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 懇願すれば（こんがんすれば） |
| tara | 懇願したら（こんがんしたら） |
| Volitional | 懇願しよう（こんがんしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 懇願しましょう（こんがんしましょう） |
| Imperative | 懇願しろ（こんがんしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym嘆願たんがんWrittenWritten/formal prose. States one's circumstances in an earnest request, e.g. a petition for a reduced sentence; 「懇願」 stresses heartfelt, desperate pleading.
- Synonym懇請こんせいWrittenWritten. An earnest, sincere request, but more formal than 「懇願」 and with less of a begging feel.
- Synonym頼みたのみCasualColloquial. An everyday request asking someone to do something, in a matter-of-fact tone; far lighter than 「懇願」.
- Synonym哀訴嘆願あいそたんがんFormalFormal four-character compound for pleading bitterly for help or mercy, with a sorrowful tone; 「懇願」 stresses the sincere, heartfelt plea.
- Synonym哀願あいがんWrittenWritten. Begging in a pitiful, wretched way; 「懇願」 stresses the sincerity of the plea rather than its pathos.
- Related頼みたのみCasualColloquial. An everyday request asking someone to do something, in a matter-of-fact tone; far lighter than 「懇願」.
- Related哀訴あいそFormalFormal. An appeal centering on the sorrowful telling of one's grief; also an old legal term.
- Related求めもとめNeutralNeutral. A demand or request one puts forward, and also purchasing; broader in scope than 「懇願」.
- Related請いこいWrittenWritten. Requesting or entreating; now used mostly in the set phrase 「請いを入れる」, to grant a plea.
Use 「懇願」 for heartfelt, desperate pleading, as in 「涙ながらに懇願する」. For petitioning by laying out one's case, use 「嘆願」; for pitiful begging, 「哀願」; for everyday requests, 「頼み」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
